Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar (Likud) criticized the joint election run by Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper, saying the alliance 'does not bring a real message' and that the partners have not ruled out sitting with Arab parties. The remarks come hours after the Reservists Party finalized the merger.
The remarks by Minister Zohar, a senior Likud figure, signal opposition within the right-wing bloc to the emerging centrist slate. The alliance between Hendel, a former communications minister, and Tropper, a former culture minister, was finalized this afternoon, as The Zioneer reported. Zohar's criticism focuses on the alliance's refusal to rule out coalition with Arab-majority parties, a line that has historically been a red line for right-wing and religious parties. The question of whether the new faction will sit in a government with Arab parties remains a key point of contention in the current election campaign.
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